Yu-gi-oh

No Limits

By Kevin Jones

Turn 6-The Fool

"What the hell is going on here?" I ask, granted I don't expect a useful answer.

For about 45 minutes now I and Vanessa have been in the apartment of Deborah Starzan, a famous fashion designer who has also been hiding her illegitimate daughter, the same daughter nearly killed me in a duel a few days ago.

"I hired a private eye," Starzan begins, "Sadusky his name was."

"Wait a minute, did you Sadusky?"

"Yes, why?"

"Tall, wide, black hair and dark brown eyes?"

"Yes, but how do you know him?"

"Know him, he's a sector security agent, I was just dueling him last night."

"You think he's involved in this?" Asks Vanessa, when I told her about my encounter with Sadusky I chose to "cut out" the part where Sadusky fell to his death.

"It doesn't surprise me that the group that took my daughter, Arcadia, I think they call themselves, is full of people with even more dangerous powers than Abigail, I knew that when I hired him, but I had to know what they did to my daughter, I hired Sadusky 2 years ago, he didn't turn up a lot at first but one day he found out that the Arcadia Movement had a building they used for psychic research upstate. When he went to go investigate I never heard from him again, a few weeks past and I received the D.V.D we just watched."

"Do you still have the address of the school?"

"Yes, but why do you want to go there?"

"I'm curious?"

After that Starzan looks at me with a combination of confusion and what looks like either anger or disgust, I get both a lot.

Vanessa picks up Starzan's hands; she is now looking at her straight in the eye and has a compassionate smile on her face.

"Don't worry; we're going to bring your daughter back. I know we don't look like much but we will find a way to save your daughter, I promise."

"…Hold on one minute."

Starzan looks completely entranced in what the green eyed girl has just said to her. She is now walking into the hallway towards one of the closed rooms.

"How on earth did you do that?"
"I didn't act like a cynical jerk," she says this with disgust in her voice.

"It usually-

"Excuse me."
Instantly we both turn our heads to see the woman standing in front of us holding a manila Folder.

"All the information I have on Arcadia is in this folder. I'm giving it to you now with the full knowledge that I may never get it back. In all reality I think all the drinking has finally gotten to me, the idea of trusting a couple of kids with something like this, but I'm out of options and for that reason I'm giving this to you 2."

Vanessa takes the file away from the woman; I can only hope I don't return this to her while in a body bag.

…

"You know it might have helped if you showed some sign of sympathy in there."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"The woman's spent the past 4 years wondering what happened to her daughter, only to find out some Russian lady tells her that if she even try's to find out about her she'll kill her and then has you show up and make her feel like crap."

"She made her daughter think that it was bad that she existed."

"She never said that."

"How else do you explain keeping her a secret?"

"She didn't know what else to do, not everything is as black and white as you think it is."

"Well of course you're going to take her side."

"Why's that?"

"Because you're a girl," to all the women out there, you're probably about to get angry. I don't really care but I've now given you fair warning.

"What does I being a girl have anything to do with this?"

"Awhile back the FBI did a study on crimes that were motivated by gender to see what the biggest bias was and you want to know what they found out?"

"Indulge me."

"In crimes against men or women the biggest bias is the gender of the judge."

"Are you saying I'm not damning this woman because I'm a girl?" It is more of a statement than a question.

"Me, Darwin, 2,000 years of evolutionary biology and, of course your ovaries."

"That's the most ridicules thing I've ever heard!"

"And what we heard in there is definitely one of the most dangerous things I've ever heard, so now it's for you to go home. You got your little adventure and now you know what I've gotten myself into, it's time for you to drop you off back at your place."

"No way, with your people skills there likely to shoot you, and second I promised Ms. Starzan I'd get her daughter back."

"And almost 100 years ago they said World War 1 would be "The war to end all wars," tell that to all the soldiers who died in World War 3."

"Fine, mock me if you like, but, unlike you, I actually care about people so that is why we are going to… The Arcadia Boarding School in… Washington, New York.

"There is no we."

…

We have been on the road for almost 4 hours. Vanessa was quiet the whole time, but now she's starting to look nervous, kind of like when you're a little kid and your dared to go into the woods at night.

On the outside this large old brick building doesn't look any different from a normal boarding school. I look at all the kids on the grounds and they look like ordinary teenagers, but I can't help but feel nervous about this place. There's definitely something not right with this place and right now everything in me is telling me to get the hell away from this place.

"Hey I just had a thought," says Vanessa.

"Was it hard," I remark.

"Look, what if we go in there and the first person, who sees me, looks at me and, I don't know, takes over my body or something."

"This isn't X-men."

"I know, but after that DVD all I can think about is what could be in there."

"Well then you shouldn't have come with me then. You can't stay out here, thanks to that Security Camera you're already being watched and if you're out here to long then someone might get suspicious, come out here, and search the runner, and if they find the file in the storage compartment under the seat then were both screwed."
"…Your right, but we still need to be careful, don't forget we still only know about what one student here can do."

As she points this out I switch my turbo deck with my ground deck and walk back to the runner.

"Detaching Duel Disk," Is said by a computer voice as the duel disk rises from the runner, I place my wrist dealer under the red duel disk, as it then lowers and makes a "bing" noise as it attaches to my dealer. As I move my arm up I can feel the disk wiggle, it's not a perfect fit, but it will do.

"How's a duel disk going to help us?"

"In case you didn't notice these people seem to control their power through dueling, so way I figure if anyone wants a piece of us there going to duel us first."

"So according to you if they want to kill us there going to challenge us to a card game," she says sounding skeptical.

"If that's how you want to see it."

"Well, to be honest the game seems kind of boring to me."

"Boring, you know what let's just get going."

Nobody turns there head as we walk through the large, apparently old, front gate however Vanessa still stays close to me.

"Hey, you!"

As I hear this I quickly turn my head to the voice and Vanessa jumps behind me.

"Who are you?" I say; the boy I ask this too is short and skinny with orange eyes, messy blonde hair and the buttons on his school uniform appear to be buttoned with the wrong buttons.

"The names Damon and from the looks of things you're a duelist."

"What's it to you?"

"Well spiky head, it just so happens that duelists are only allowed on campus if they can get past me."

"Spiky head?" that's a new one.

"Well," starts Vanessa, "it's not as much spiky as much as it's all sticky uppy and it's flat on the top so it's just kind of leaning forward in the front, kind of like a porcupine tail."

Great, apparently where I just thought people wanted me to comb my hair, other people compare it to small forest vermin.

"Well what's it going to be, duel or run away in fear?"

"Wait a minute," starts Vanessa, "are you telling me that in order to get passed the front door he has to defeat you in some children's card game!"

"Listen missy this-" Damon stops as he scans Vanessa from head to toe, as fast as he does that he is now in front of her, only inches from her face.

"Wow, you're pretty, what's your name?"

"Um, uh, Vanessa and this is Chase." She says this confusingly.

"You know, Vanessa, if Duel Monsters isn't your thing maybe you and I can go catch a movie over in town."

He is now attempting to place his arm around Vanessa's shoulder. Vanessa lifts her hand up and slaps Damon's hand, hard. Damon jump's a few feet back and is now rubbing the red spot on the back of his hand.

"You know what Chase, I change my mind, kick his ass at his own game!"

"My pleasure and if you want Damon you can have the first turn."

"Gladly."

Damon

"Alright then, I summon Bulbasaur (ATK: 100/DEF: 100) in attack mode."

There is now a small reptilian toad thing with a bulb on its back staring at me with red eyes.

Chase

"That's' it?"

"You bet, now make your move, if you dare."

"Fine, I summon Elemental Hero Voltic (ATK: 1000/DEF: 1500) in attack mode."

"You know I never pinned you as the comic book super hero type." Remarks Vanessa, I ignore this and decide to continue.

"Now Voltic use Voltic thunder on… whatever that thing is!" (4000-3100)

"Hey you can't attack on the first turn!"

"No, you can't attack on the first turn because the first turn is for setting up your strategy so to be fair I get the first attack."

"Oh, well I knew that, that was all just part of my strategy, now are you done?"

I nod and he starts to draw, I have a bad feeling this is going to be a long match.

Damon

"Alright then I summon Charmander (ATK: 200/DEF: 0) in attack mode!"

Chase

I have a bad feeling he summoned the little orange bipedal salamander with the flame on its tail to bait me, but I don't have time to play games.

"Ok then, Voltic destroy his lizard!" (3100-2300)

"Like a moth to a flame." Says Damon, as the lizard falls the tail on its flame engulfs it and then explodes with the flames going in all directions.

"Now you take damage equal to the combined amount of Charmander's ATK and DEF points!" (4000-3800)

"Wait a minute; you only inflicted 200 points of damage?"

"I know, not bad huh."

"Let me reiterate, you took 800 points of damage and I only took 200."

"I don't know what reiterate means but I agree with you, now mind if I trick you again."

"Please do."

Damon

"I summon Squirtle in defense mode." (ATK: 300/DEF: 1000)

Chase

"Well at least you summoned something that will help you." I comment

"You've heard of that thing?" Asks Vanessa

"Yup, basically its a little blue turtle that when it's in defense mode it needs to be attacked twice in order to be destroyed by battle."

"I got you cornered don't I?"

With that I draw

"No, it just means my Hero needs some company. "I summon Elemental Hero Stratos (ATK: 1800/DEF: 300) in attack mode, next due to Stratos's effect I can add Elemental Hero Lady Heat to my hand, and next I play the spell card H-Heated Heart giving my Voltic 500 extra ATK points, (1000-1500) now Stratos, Stratosphere storm!"

As the winds kick up the shell that holds the turtle in it is hurtled up and lands promptly on Damon's head.

"Oh yeah and also the monster who's power is increased via H-Heated Heart also gains piercing ability."

"What's that?" Asks Damon.

"Simple, normally because your monsters in defense mode your life points would be spared by Voltic's attack, but with piercing ability you'll take damage equal to the difference between my monsters ATK and your monsters DEF points, now Heated thunder!" (2300-1800)

Damon

"Ok that's it, no more games!"

"This is a game," Remarks Vanessa.

"Hey it isn't my fault your boyfriend keeps using Voodoo!"

"For starters, I'm not her boyfriend, and second I've dueled fairly and intelligently unlike you who barely knows how to play!"

"You want intelligence, I'll give you intelligence. I summon my Prinplup (Level: 3/ATK: 1300/DEF: 2000) in attack mode, like my blue penguin, good, because when I summon a level 3 or lower Water monster I can special summon my Piplup tuner monster (Level: 2/ATK: 300/DEF: 1000) in attack mode."

"What's a tuner monster?" Asks Vanessa

"Trouble," I answer.

"That's right; I tune my Piplup with my Prinplup in order to Synchro summon," Piplup, the smaller of the 2 penguins begins to run, it jumps into the air flapping its 2 tiny blue wings which cause it to dematerialize into 2 large green rings; Prinplup is now shooting like a bullet in between them, causing him to dematerialize into 3 shinning stars and with a loud bang in the air, "I synchro summon Empoleon (ATK: 2300/DEF: 3000)!

"Next I activate Empoleon's special ability; I remove my Bulbasaur from play in order to add Bulbasaur's attack points to Empoleon until the end phase (2300-2400), now Empoleon destroy his Voltic, drill peck! (3800-2400) Next I end my turn." (2400-2300)

Chase

Ok so maybe this kid isn't the worst duelist ever, but that birds getting fried this round.

"Alright then, I play the spell card Hero's Bond which allows me to special summon 2 level 4 or lower elemental Hero's from my hand. Now allow me to introduce you to Elemental Hero Avian (ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000) and Elemental Hero Lady Heat, (ATK: 1300/DEF: 1000) both in attack mode!"

"Now who's playing weak cards?"

"Watch and learn cause next I play the spell Hero Pressure, now your overgrown penguin loses 300 ATK points for every Elemental hero on the field,

(2300-1400) now Stratos attack!"

"Sorry but my Empoleon has a second effect, now I remove from play my Charmander in order to switch my Empoleon from attack to defense mode!"

The penguin's fins went over its face and I watched as a simple but deadly strategy eats away at my life points. (2400-1200)

"I set 1 card face down and end my turn (1800-1200)."

"Hey why did my life points go down?"

"Upon ending my turn Lady Heat inflicts 200 points of direct damage to your life points for every Hero I control."

"Oh, well either way this duel is almost over."

Damon

"So spiky head looks like I've got you between a rock and a hard place, you can't negate my offense, or breakthrough my defense, there is one option if you don't mind getting on your hands and knees."

"Will you just make your damn move already," this is getting annoying, plus we're attracting a crowd.

"Uh-oh, someone's angry, oh well, I remove Squirtle from play to give Empoleon 300 ATK points, (ATK: 1400-1700) now, destroy his Avian!"

I've got to act quickly if this is going to work.

"(1200-500) I activate the trap card Hero Signal!"

Ok there's a light shining in the sky that has the elemental hero symbol on it, now it's time to teach Damon a thing or 2 about special summoning.

"Now because 1 of my monsters was destroyed by your bird I can special summon a level 4 or lower hero straight from my deck, now allow me to introduce you to Elemental Hero Ocean! (ATK: 1500/DEF: 1200) Now it's time for the big guns!"

"Bring them on." (1700-1400)

Chase

"First up because it's my draw phase I draw one card from my deck," yes, "Next because it's my standby phase I can activate the effect of Elemental Hero Ocean allowing me to add Elemental Hero Voltic from my graveyard to my hand, next because it's my main phase I can activate the spell card Polymerization."

"What's that do?"
"Let me guess you've never heard of fusion summoning have you?"

"Of course I have, but since Nes isn't too familiar with this game maybe you should explain it."

"Since when am I called Nes?"

"Never mind that, now because I have an Elemental Hero monster in my hand, Voltic, and a water attribute monster on the field, Ocean, I can combine them in order to fusion summon Elemental Hero Absolute Zero in attack mode (ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000)!"

Synchro, fusion, and ritual in the game of Duel Monsters there's never a dull moment, especially when it's fat, overgrown, navy blue Penguin vs. armored, white, super hero who can control ice.

"Now because you control a water attribute monster my hero gains 500 ATK points, (ATK: 2500-3000) now Absolute Zero attack!"

"Did you forget, I can remove my Piplup from play to switch Empoleon to defense mode, so it looks like your last shot at victory failed."

As I glance over at Vanessa I see worry on her face, since I know Damon won't notice I wink at her which looks like it's bringing her confidence in me back.

"I set one card face down and end my turn (1200-600)."

Damon

"Alright then, I remove Prinplup from play in order to increase Empoleon's ATK power, (1400-2700) now Empoleon attack his lady and end this duel!"

"I activate the trap card Defender Hero."

"Wait, what?"

"Simple now your Empoleon's attack target is switched from Lady Heat to Zero."

At that moment both Vanessa, Damon and the small group of people watching the duel watch in shock as Zero gets in the way of Lady Heat. Zero effortlessly grabs Empoleon by the beak and freezes it (3000-2500) (600-300).

Chase

"How did you do that?" Asks, a shocked, Damon.

"Simple, every card I play is part of my strategy."

"Same with me."

"No, every card you play is played so it can be used in some mundane, childlike, bone head strategy. A duel is about you adapting to your opponent and your cards have to the same, now Elemental Hero Absolute Zero freezing at moment!" (300-0)

Chase: Win Damon: lose

I hear a number of applauses coming from the crowd around us telling me that Damon really is either one of the best this school has to offer or he's that annoying that everyone's glad I shut him up. As I turn my head to see Vanessa's response; she looks like she's seen a ghost and at that instant everybody quiets down.

"Mr. Rhodes, how nice to see you again, and it looks like you brought a friend this time."

Next time: A day with Damon

As I look outside the door I can tell something isn't right, as I stick my head back inside I close the door and turn around towards Vanessa.

"We're being watched aren't we?"

"Do you really want to know?"

She nods her head.

"Yes."